Partition assembling machine



April 1952 R. J, ,HICKIN 2,594,924

PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed JuIy 22, 1947 9 Sheets-sheaf 1 April29, 1952 R. J. HlCKlN PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 22, 1947 April 29, 1952 v R. J. HICKIN 2 7 PARTITIONASSEMBLING MACHINE I Filed July 22; 1947 9 Shee tSQ-Sheet s A ril 29,1952 R. J. HICKIN I PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 22m 6e l April 29, 1952 R. J, HICKIN 2,594,924

PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 April1952 R. J. HICKIN 2,594,924

PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet a April29, 1952 Filed July 22, 1947 R. J. HlCKlN PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE 9Sheets-Sheet 7 April 1 R. J. HICKIN 2,594,924

PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1947 '9 Sheets-Sheet 8 April1952 R. J; HlCKlN 2,594,924

PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 9Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTITION ASSEMBLINGMACHINE Robert J. Hickin, Rittman, Ohio Application July 22, 1947,Serial No. 762,616

15 Claims. (01. 93-37) tions for use in cases of beer and similarbottled goods where provision must be made to separately accommodatetwenty-four bottles. It is to be understood, however, that the machineis capable of adjustment to adapt it for operation on other types andsizes of partition assemblies. It is well recognized that handassembling of the paperboard partition strips is a tedious andtime-consuming operation, even when performed by experienced and skilledoperatives, and makes the manufacturing cost and sales price of thepartition assemblies out of proportion to the value of the materialsentering into their fabrication. Also, due partly to the relativelyflimsy nature of the partition strips, machines heretofore devised fortheir assembling in cellular arrangement have not been entirelysatisfactory, and have resulted in waste of strips and hence theirunfitness for future use other than as scrap for return to the boardmill.

One object of the present invention is to pro-.

vide a machine for assembling the complemental strips of two groups ininterlocked criss-cross cellular arrangement in such a manner that theoperation may be successively performed for long machine runs withoutfailure and hence without the accumulation of waste.

A further object is to provide the machine with feeding means for thepartition strips whereby a series thereof may be fed in interleavedarrangement, thus taking advantage of a multi-layer thickness of thestrips as feed to increase their rigidity and thus facilitate thecontrol, direction and course of their feed.

Having in mind the fact, as will hereinafter appear, that certain of thepartition strips are fed in a horizontal direction and standing on edge,and their mating strips are fed in a vertical direction and transverselyof the firstmentioned, strips, a still further object of the inventionis to interengage the mating slotted and solid portions of thelongitudinally and vertically fed strips in a manner simulating handassembly operations and Without subjecting the strips to such edgewisepressure as might cause them to buckle,

Another object is to so interrelate the feed of the horizontally andvertically fed strips, by interresponsive control means, that requiredregister of their respective slots and solid por- 1-tions willautomatically be assured.

- In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in theseveral figures of which like parts are similarly designated,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the features of theinvention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation, taken on the line 22 of Fig.3, of the feed hopper and associated feed mechanism for the verticallyfed partition strips,

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the feed hopper of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a modified form ofhopper feed means,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a number of partition strips ininterleaved arrangement as they leave the feeding means of Figs. 2 and3,

Fig. 6 is a diagram of appropriate wiring for the electrically operatedand controlled mechanisms of the machine,

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary elevations of the assemblingstation of the machine and the operatin and control means thereat, asviewed from opposite sides of the machine,

Figs. 9 and 10 arev partial side elevations, upon a larger scale, of theassembling station of the machine, similar to Fig. 7, but showing theparts in two positions of operation, respectively,

Fig. 11 is a'front view, with parts broken away,

of the assembling station with associated mechanism,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig.11, with parts omitted,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary front elevation, upon a larger scale, ofoperative parts of the strip aligning mechanism for the vertical feed,

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation taken on the line lG-l l of Fig. 13,

Figs. 15 and 16v are sectional elevations .taken, respectively, upon thelines 15-45 and Iii-l6 of Fig. 13,

Fig; 1'7 is a sectional view of the aligner fingers taken on the lineI'll l of Fig. 13,

Figs. 18, 19 and 20 are similar sectional side views of the assemblingstation of the machine,

' viewed in the direction of Fig. 8, illustrating three successivestages in the assembling operation,

Figs.,21 and 22 are perspective views of the two types of conventionalslotted partition strips customarily used in assemblies of cellularpartitions for cases of beer and other bottled goods of twenty-four unitcapacity, and

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of such a partition assembly as themachine is especially designed to produce from slotted partition stripsof the types shown in Figs. 21 and 22.

In Figs. 1, 6, '7, 8, 11 and 12 the parts of the machine are shown inthe positions assumed by them when the supply of electric current is cutoff at the main start-stop switch, as will later appear.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, wherein the complete assemblingmachine is shown, it will be noted that an operator seated or standingat position A, at the front end of the machine, will be in control ofthe machine and will have available, preferably in suitable open-sidedtroughs or bins (not shown), stacks of partition strips a of the short,three-slot, four section form shown in Fig. 22, one stack convenient tohis right hand and one to his left hand. These partition strips areintroduced into the machine five at a time, as will be described morefully hereinafter, the operator using both hands for the purpose withthree strips held separated between the fingers of one hand and twostrips similarly held in the other hand. The three-slot partition stripsare chosen for manual introduction into the machine because of theirrelative shortness as compared with the five-slot partition strips b ofFig. 21, and their concomitant relative stiffness, both of whichattributes makes them easier to handle and better suit them to thevertical, on-edge position in which they are conducted through theassembling station of the machine, as will later appear.

Moreover, due in some measure to the shortness and stiffness of thesethree-slot strips a, it has been found that the operator who introducesthem into the machine, though originally unskilled, can, after a shortterm of practice, develop a remarkable facility and speed in handlingthem five at a time and appropriately feeding them into the machine.

A supply of long, five-slot, six section partition strips 1) (Fig. 21)is stacked upon the bed I of the elevated hopper and held in verticalalignment thereon by the front guides 2, side guides 3 and rear guides 4(Figs. 2 and 3), these side and rear guides being carried on supports 5slidable by slot and securing bolt means (Fig. 3) for adjustmentlaterally of the front 6 of the hopper and the rear guides beingindependently adjustable upon the rearwardly extending rods of thesupports 5 by means of slidable brackets 4 to accommodate the hopper forthe reception .of partition strips of various dimensions.

The partition strips are advanced from the bottom of the stack, one at atime, by a feed plate 7 to which reciprocatory motion is imparted by aslide 8 operated through suitable mechanism 9 from the driven shaft IUof a single-revolution clutch mechanism of conventional form (not shown)actuated by a solenoid ll, power being applied to the driving shaft !2of the clutch through a pulley l3. and belt I4 from a motor 15.

Instead of employing this type of mechanism for operating the feed plate'1, including the single-operation clutch, the modified meansillustrated in Fig. 4 may be used. Here the feed slide 8 is connectedwith the piston rod of an air cylinder 9', control of which is affordedby a four-way valve l0 of conventional commercial form actuated by asolenoid I I adapted to be energized in the same manner as is thesolenoid I I, as will hereinafter appear.

As the individual partition strips are fed forward from the hopper bythe feed plate 1, they are engaged between sets of knurled or otherfriction rollers I6, [6 and I! mounted upon shafts l8 and I9,respectively, the rollers l6, 16 being driving rollers and turning withtheir shaft i8, whereas the rollers I1 are idlers and preferably turn onanti-friction bearings upon their shaft l9. It will be noted that thereare two sets of rollers 16 and I1 paced upon their shafts in sucharrangement as to mate with one another in pairs above and below themarginal sections of the partition strips (see Figs. 2 and 3), whereasthe rollers l5 merely support and guide the central sections of thestrips. For engagement with the sections of the strips between thoseengaged by the rollers I6 and I6 spring depressor fingers H areprovided. The shaft I8 is driven through a pulley 20 from the belt I4and motor [5, and is held against vertical movement in suitable bearingsrigidly attached to the hopper framework. The shaft I9 is mounted inspring pressed slide bearings 21 the pressure springs 22 of whichfunction to force the rollers I! against the marginal sections of thepartition strips to engage them in frictional feeding relation to thedriven feed rollers l6.

As the partition strips 1) are fed forward by the rollers [8-H they restupon the shelving feed guide 23 leading to the throat of the assemblingstation of the machine, and their upper surfaces are engaged and guidedin conjunction with the feed guide 23 by a plurality, preferably two, offlexible guide straps 24 (Figs. 1, 11 and 12) the forward or lower endsof which may be rigidly attached to the vertical guide plate 25 of theassembling station, and the rear or upper ends of which are yieldablymounted by connection through cables 26 with a spring tensioned roller21 similar in construction and operation to an ordinary shade roller.Optionally, how ever, the rear ends of the straps 24 may be tensioned byother obvious types of yielding tension means such as extensible helicalsprings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the pairsof feed rollers I 61 7 which engage the two outer or marginal sectionsof the partition strips are preferably of such diameters, the lowerrollers l6 greater than the upper rollers [1, that these outer ormarginal sections will be bent upwardly out of the normal plane of thefed strips, and this is true also of the central sections engaged by therollers IS. The intermediate sections will be held in planar alignmentwith the bodies of the strips, or possibly slightly depressed, by thespring fingers N. This results in the interleaving of the sections offollowing fed strips with the solid portions of strips preceding them,as shown in Fig. 5, to thus produce a relatively rigid, rather thanflimsy, and longitudinally and laterally interengaged web of the stripsin their travel to the assembling station of the machine. Hence, as eachstrip is fed from the hopper into this web the whole web will beadvanced forwardly and downwardly in the guides 23, 24, 25 a distanceequal to approximately one-half the height of a strip.

In order that the feed of the strips, and the resulting web thereof, maybe properly directed to insure appropriate presentation of the web atthe assembling station, the feed hopper is mounted upon a stand similarin construction to the bed of a turret lathe and having a rotatable head28 directly carrying the hopper, the motor [5 and other operativeadjuncts, and right angularly adjustable guides and slides 29-30, 3|-32. Thus the hopper may be moved longitudinally and laterally of themachine in direct line, and may be swung to any desired angle withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the guides 23, 24, 25. Appropriatemeans, such as set screws 33, may be provided for maintaining theangular adjustment of the rotatable head 28.

The partition strips 1) thus fed from the hopper are, for convenience indescription, referred to as in the vertical feed.

In order to accomplish the feed of the short, three slot, four sectionpartition strips a, which, for convenience in description will bereferred to as in the horizontal feed, to the assembling station, themachine table 35, Figs. 1, '7, 8, 11 and 12, is provided with two spacedparallel shafts and 36 each of which has anixed to it a pair oflaterally spaced similar sprockets 3151, 3838, respectively carryingchains 39. The upper flights of these chains preferably run on tracks 40of the table (Fig. 7), and power to drive them is imparted to thesprocket of shaft 55, clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, through a chain andsprocket transmission 5 change speed gearing 42 and belt drive 53 from amotor t l.

At the assembling station a framework 45, supported upon the table 34,carries a plurality of separator guides or gates 45 equal in number tothe number of sections in the partition strips 2) in the vertical feed,and so adjustably spaced as by means of clamps 41 (Figs. 11 and 12) asto provide between them ways 38 for reception of the partitions strips ain the horizontal feed and for supporting these strips in vertical,onedge, arrangement and in alignment with the mating slots of thepartition strips b in the vertical feed. It will be noted that theforward faces of the separator guides or gates 46 are provided with adouble bevel or V shape, Figs. 11 and 12, thus facilitating the manualintroduction by the operator at A into the ways 58 between them of thestrips (1 in the horizontal feed in the manner hereinbefore referred to.In order to prevent the inertia of the hand-fed strips a from causingtheir introduction too far into the ways 48, friction producing springs66' (Fig. 11) are provided upon the gates 55 adjacent to the forward orV-shaped edges thereof.

Extending transversely of the table 54, with their ends affixed to thechains 39 at appropriately spaced intervals, are a plurality of feedbars 49 (three as shown) which, as they travel toward the assemblingstation in their movement with the chains 39, will engage the forwardlyprojecting edges of the partition strips a in the horizontal feed andcarry the strips along into the ways 48 in uniform alignment and atuniform speed (see Figs. 7, 8, and 11).

At the assembling station, where the feed guide 23 and guide plate '25form the feed throat for the partition strips 1) in the vertical feed,the frame 45 carries two shafts 50 and 5|, respectively, each of whichhas mounted upon it a plurality of feed rollers 52 spaced axially of theshafts, and in mating pairs on the two shafts adjacent to the endsthereof for feeding engagement with at least the two sections adjacentto the margins of the partition strips in the vertical feed, the rollerson the shaft 50 being preferably knurled and capable of drivingengagement with the strips.

The shaft 56, and with it its rollers 52, is driven by a pulley and belttransmission 53 from a motor 54 (Fig. l). The shaft 5| is preferably 6non-rotative and its rollers 52 are mounted on anti-friction bearingscarried by it. The ends of the shaft 5| are carried in slide blocks 55(Figs. '7 to 10) mounted to slide in ways 56. Movement of theshaft 5|away from shaft 56 is imparted in response to intermittent movement ofthe adjustable links 51 pivotally secured at one end to the slide blocks55 and having their other ends connected at 51 by a lost motionconnection including a pivot pin and slot, as shown, to lever arms 58carried by a rock shaft 59 actuated by a power lever 60 rigidly attachedintermediate its ends to the shaft 59 and having one of its endspivotally connected to the core 6| of a solenoid 62 and its other endtensioned by a spring 63. Movement of the shaft 5| toward shaft 50 isimparted by heavy springs 56a which bear against the blocks 55 andagainst adjustable compression screws 56b carried by the ways 56, seeFigs. 9 and 10. Major relative adjustment of the ways 56, and hence ofthe shaft 5|, with respect to the shaft 56 is provided for by adjustablestop screws 56c and clamping bolts 56d. By these means it will beapparent that the driven rollers 52 of the shaft 56 may be utilized toimpart a downward drive thrust to successive partition strips in thevertical feed as these strips are presented between them and the rollers52 of the shaft 5| when said latter shaft is acting under the influenceof the springs 56a to frictionally engage the two sets of rollers 52with opposite faces of the strips.

Also actuated by the lever 66 through the rock shaft 59 by means oflever arms 65, links 65 and rock levers 66 having fixed pivots 61carried by the frame 45, is a stop bar 68 (Figs. 7 to 10 and 18 to 20)biased by springs 69 and carrying stop pins or fingers 1D intermittentlyprojecting into and closing the feed throat formed by the guide parts 23and 25 of the vertical feed. Also carried by the links 65 is a shuttlebar 55 which moves with the links 65 into and out of position toobstruct the exitend of the throat.

As a means for insuring proper register of the slots of the partitionstrips b in the vertical feed with the mating portions of the strips ain the horizontal feed, and supplementing the initial direction of thefeed of the web of such first-mentioned strips with appropriate adjust-vment of the hopper by means of the rotatable and laterally andlongitudinally shiftable mounting means of the hopper (parts 28 to 33)hereinbefore described, there is provided at the feed throat 23--35adjacent to the final feed rollers 52 an aligner mechanism which servesto positively attain aligning register just prior to actual individualsuccessive feed of the strips from the web of same.

This aligner mechanism (Figs. 1 and 11 to 17) comprises a transverseshaft 1| mounted for reciprocation and oscillation in bearings 12 carried upon frame members of the vertical guide plate 25. The shaft 1| isreciprocated under the influence of a solenoid 13 and return spring 14through a reciprocating bar 15 connected to the core of the solenoid 13and having a yoke 16 embracing the shaft 1| and confined between similarcollars 11 adjustable axially of the shaft. The shaft 1| carries a pairof fingers 18 spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the width of asingle section of a partition strip and these fingers extend through anopening 19 formed in the guide plate 25. fluence of a fixed surface cam86, and a cam follower 8| reciprocating with the shaft 1|, the

Normally, under the infingers 18 are maintained in an angular positionout of contact with partition strips in the throat 23-25, as shownparticularly in Fig. 15. However, upon reciprocation of the shaft underthe influence of the solenoid 13, the cam follower 81 will engage thelow portion of the cam 80 and the shaft will be oscillated by a torsionspring 82 to press the free ends of the fingers 13 into contact with apartition strip in the throat. These fingers are so located axially ofthe shaft H as to be able to press against the outer or forward face ofa single section of the leading strip in the vertical feed and adjacentto the leading edge of such section and displace it slightly rearwardlytoward the shaft between the adjacent rollers 52 (Fig. 13), as shown inbroken lines in Fig. 14. Hence, with the finger at the right (Fig. 13)accurately adjusted to insure proper alignment of the strip in theleading end of the web, it will be apparent that one full left and rightreciprocation of the shaft- II will actuate the fingers 18 to accomplishthe desired alignment, and at the end of the right hand stroke ofreciprocation the cam follower 8| will ride up onto the high point of acam 89 to return the fingers to inoperative position. It will be noted,moreover, by reference to Fig. 17, that the conformation of the stripengaging faces of the fingers 18 is such that they will be capable ofaligning engagement with adjacent edges of sections of the strips onlywhen travelling in one direction, the left hand finger when travellingto the left, and the right hand finger when travelling to the right.Moreover, as will be described hereinafter, this aligning operation willbe performed when the leading edge of the leading strip 17 of the web ofsame is resting upon, and its downward movement arrested by, the shuttlebar 55.

Preferably, in order to insure proper alignment of the strips under theinfluence of the fingers l8, and to prevent misalignment which mightresult from inertia in the web under the influence of their movement tothe right, the throat will be provided with a stop member or edge gauge83 extending into the throat and resiliently biased inwardly of thethroat by a spring mounting member 83 (Figs. 11 and 12). Also, anadjustable stop 84 is provided for limiting return movement of the coreof the solenoid 13, and hence of the shaft H, under the influence of thespring 14.

In order properly to energize and deenergize the solenoids 62 and I3,switches 85 and 88, respectively, are provided. These switches close andopen in timed relation to the travel of the partition strips a in thehorizontal feed, and particularly with respect to the passage of theslots in such strips, by switch lever depressors 81 and 88 mounted onrocker bars 89 and 90 to which rocking motion is imparted by series oftrip levers 9| and 92 actuated by trip cams 93 and 94, respectively,carried adjacent to the opposite ends of the feed bars 49. Adjustablebearing mounts 95-95 and 96-96 are provided for permitting axialadjustment of the rocker bars, and the trip levers are individuallyadjustable axially of the rocker bars and are capable of being fixed inproper adjustment by set screws 9| and 92 in order to insure propertiming of the tripping of the switches 85 and 85 with respect to travelof the partition strips a in the horizontal feed, as will hereinafterappear in the description of the operation of the machine.

It will be noted that there are three trip levers 9| for control of thesolenoid 62, and four trip levers 92 for control of the solenoid 13. Thethree trip levers 9| correspond in number and operative spacing to thethree slots in the partition strips in the horizontal feed. The fourtrip levers 92 will cause the aligning mechanism to function just priorto each actuation of the vertical feeding mechanisms and just subsequentto the third strip assembling operation.

Referring to the wiring diagram of Fig. 6, it will be seen that themotors l5 and 54 are in the circuit controlled by a conventionalstart-stop switch 91 within reach of the operator stationed at A, sothat, when a run on the machine is to be made, these motors may operate,respectively, to constantly drive the clutch drive shaft I2 and hopperfeed roller drive shaft l8, and the throat feed roller shaft 50.

The circuit through the motor 44 which drives the horizontal feed chains39 is controlled by a knee or thigh switch 98 within easy reach of thesitting or standing operator at position A, thus leaving both of theoperators hands free for supplying partition strips a to the horizontalfeed I mechanism.

It will be seen also that the solenoids i I and 62 are connected in sucha manner as to be simultaneously energized under the control of theswitch 85, but solenoid H isdeenergized in response to movement of thelever by a switch Il' adapted to open when the lever has about completedits downward travel in response to energization of its operatingsolenoid 62. The solenoid 13, which actuates the final aligningmechanism, is controlled solely by the switch 96.

In order to avoid overrunning of the feed chains 39 of the horizontalfeed due to inertia in the drive of the motor 44 therefor, this motor isprovided with a brake 44a released by a solenoid 44b in circuit with themotor under control of the feed control switch 98.

For convenience in making adjustments in the feed mechanisms, simpleon-off switches 99 and !59 are provided. The switch 99 can function tocut all of the solenoids ll, 62 and 13 out of operation, whereas theswitch I00 can function to out only the solenoid l I out of operation.

As shown in Fig. 1, a belt conveyor or the like it! is provided to takethe assembled partitions from the assembling machine to a point ofpackaging or storing. Normally, when dropped onto the conveyor HH fromthe table 34 the partition assemblies will collapse to flat condition,but to insure that they thus collapse a baflie IE2 is provided.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows:

Prior to functioning of the machine in the actual assembling of thestrips a and b fed in the horizontal and vertical feeds, respectively,the vertical feed hopper is supplied with an appropriate stack ofuniformly arranged partition strips b of the six section type (Fig. 21)and the motors l5 and 54 started by operation of the switch 91 Start"button. Then without supplying any of the four section strips a (Fig.22) in the horizontal feed, the operator will allow the normally closedswitch 98 to remain closed, thus resulting in release of the brake 44aand energization of the feed motor 44 to cause travel of the chains 39,and operation of the solenoids 62 and II, but particularly the clutchoperating solenoid ll, until a web of partition strips b (Fig. 21) isformed between the guides 23-24 and extending into the throat of theassembling station where, when it is arrested by the shuttle bar 65',the switch 98 is depressed to open the circuit through the solenoids 62and II in order not to jam the vertical feed.

The initial web of partition strips may also be formed by manuallyoperating solenoid II with the circuit at'switch 98 open but with themotors l and 5d running.

While the web of strips is being formed, the direction of its travelbetween the guides 23 and 24 may be observed and appropriate adjustmentof the position (to right or left, forward or backward) of the feedhopper, and its angular adjustment, may be made through theinstrumentality of the parts 28 to 33, to correct any deviation in suchdirection of travel from that deemed proper for correct functioning ofthe mechanism at the assembling station. It will be noted here thatsimilar adjustment may be made during the subsequent assembling run ofthe machine.

With the web of partition strips 21 thus formed and extending into thethroat, the operator at station A will permit the switch 98 to closeagain and, prior to approach of a feed bar 49 to the top of the table34%, will arrange five of the short partition strips 0. in the ways 48between the.

guides 56 in the manner hereinbefore explained. As the feed bar 19approaches and contacts the near upright edges of these five strips itwill push them, in uniform alignment, into the ways 48 and the furtherfunctioning of the mechanism will be, sequentially, as follows, bearingin mind the fact that the vertical feed solenoid 62 is normallyenergized, and the hopper clutch solenoid ii is therefore normallydeenergized by switch ii, that the chains 39 travel continuously and atuniform speed, that the feed roller shafts i8 and 59 are constantlydriven, and that other elements in the hopper and throat feedingmechanisms function intermittently in timed relation to the travel ofthe chains 39: When the trip cam 96 of the feed bar 49 which is incontact with the strips a rides under the first of the trip levers 92the oscillation of the rocker bar 90 will close the aligner controlswitch 86 by operation of its switch lever depressor 89 and willenergize the aligner control solenoid E3 to cause operation of thealigner mechanism including the fingers i9 and thus produce a finalproper I alignment of the web of partition strips 2), particularly theleading or lowermost strip thereof. Almost immediately following thisoperation the trip cam 93 of this same feed bar 19 will ride under thefirst of the trip levers 91 of rocker bar 99 and will oscillate thisrocker bar to open the vertical control switch 85 by operation of itsswitch lever depressor 8'! to deenergize the vertical feed controlsolenoid 62.

This deenergization of the solenoid 62 permits a number of functions ofthe feed mechanism to take place while the trip cam 93 is riding underthe trip lever 9i, and substantially as follows: As the forward end ofthelever 69 rises, the links 65 will move forward under the influence oftheir lever arms 64 carrying with them the shuttle bar 65' so that it nolonger obstructs the throat and permits the web of strips 1) to descendjust slightly until the leading edge of the second strip in the throatwill rest upon the ends of as their actuating levers 66 are released bythe aforesaid movement of the links 65.

,It will be noted that, because of the difference into such proximity tothe rollers of the shaft 55 as to grip the lowermost or leading strip 1)in the vertical feed and, almost instantaneously, project it downwardlyinto the aligned first set of slots in the partition strips a which havebeen so timed in their progress by the feed of the bar 49 as to haveexactly registered with the feed throat and the nip of the rollers ofthe shafts 50 and 5|. Just as this projection of the strip 1). iscompleted the trip cam 93 will ride from beneath the trip lever 9i andthe solenoid 62 will again be energized by the consequent closing of theswitch 85.

These operations will be repeated for each of the sets of aligned slotsin the partition strips 11 in the horizontal feed, as shown in Figs. 18,19 and 20, wherein the first set has been filled with a partition strip17 from the vertical feed, the second set is being filled and the thirdset is advancing to be filled. In other words, in Fig. 18 the parts arein the initial position, with the solenoid 62 energized, as is normal,Fig. 19 shows the parts in the position where the solenoid 62 isdeenergized, the shuttle bar 65' is Withdrawn from beneath the feedthroat and the rollers 52 of shaft 5! are approaching the lowermost orleading strip 27 of the vertical feed, and Fig. 20 shows the parts inthe position just instantaneously following that of Fig. 19 with suchleading strip b partially inserted and the trip cam 93 just about toride from beneath the trip lever 9|. Obviously, the position of theparts just following that of Fig. 20 will be the same as is illustratedin Fig. 18.

It should be noted here that the operation of the hopper feed clutchsolenoid II which took place when the solenoid 62 was energized bycurrent passing through the switch I l, which closed when the arm 69moved out of contact with it, will have permitted the clutch to engageand feed another strip b to the vertical feed, thereby advancing the webof strips in the vertical feed a distance equal to approximatelyone-half the height of a strip, the advance of the web being stopped byreturn of the shuttle bar 65' to throat-closing position (Fig. 18) andfurther immediate feed of strips b in the vertical feed being stoppedupon opening of the switch H by' movement of the lever arm 69 under theinfluence of the reenergized solenoid 62.

After the operation has been completed for all three sets of slots ofthe group of partition strips (1, the finished partition assembly iscarried along the table top out of the assembling station and ispermitted to drop through an opening in the table top and onto theconveyor NH where it collapses, or is collapsed by the baffle I92, intofiat condition.

Of course, as each of the feed bars 19 rises to the table top a group ofthe partition strips a. will be positioned in the ways 48 of theassembling station'ahead of it, and the speed of approach of the bars 49may be accommodated to the manual speed of the operator, to thusHowever, as

trip levers with respect to the direction of travel of the chains 39,and hence the timing of their operation for energizing of the solenoids62, H and 13, will determine the proper actuation of the feed mechanismswith respect to the location of the slots of the constantly travellingpartition strips 11 relative to the throat.

It will be understood, moreover, that in order to accommodate the feedof the strips 1) in the vertical feed to a spacing of the slots thereinand in the strips a in the horizontal feed serving for a different sizeof the cellular structure of the finished partition assemblies, the triplevers BI and 92 may be individually adjusted with respect to their rockshafts 89 and 90 by means of their respective set screws 9! and 92'.Also, appropriateadjustment of the hopper parts, the aligning fingers18, and the like members which must be accommodated to a change in sizeof the strips, or in the spacing of their slots. may be made.

Various changes and modifications are considered to be within theprinciple of the invention and the'scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In "a partition assembling machine, means defining an assemblingstation, and means for feeding two sets of partition strips thereto forrelative assembly in cellular arrangement, one of said feeding meansincluding a holder for a plurality of partition strips, and means forsuccessively feeding individual strips from such plurality includingmeans for distorting from their normal -plane portions of thesuccessively fed strips whereby they may be interleaved with portions ofpreviously fedstrips.

2. Apartition'assembling machine as claimed in claim '1, in which saiddistorting means include two setsof feed members conjointly operatingupon opposite faces of the successively fed strips and having theirrelative strip contacting surfaces in planes relatively displaced fromthe plane of feed of the strips.

3. A partition assembling machine as claimed in claim 1, in which thedistorting means include feed members conjointly operating upon oppositefaces of the successively fed strips, and the feeding means include alsofeed rollers for forcing the distorted leading edge portions of onestrip into interleaved relation with the trailing edge portion of thestrip ust previously fed.

4. In a partition assembling machine, a feed table provided with meansfor feeding groups of partition strips, a feed hopper associated withsaid'table and adapted to feed another group of partition stripscomplemental to said first named group and extending transverselythereof, means defining an assembling station located intermediate saidfeed table and feed hopper, guide means affording a path between saidhopper and assembling station and adapted to receive and conduct to saidstation strips fed from said hopper, said guide means converging at saidstation to form a restricted throat for the passage of said partitionstrips,-'stop finger means having guides presenting them '-'transverselyof and capable of obstructing said throat, means for feeding stripsintermittently and successively from said hopper to said guide means,means for feeding said strips intermittently and successively from saidguide means to said assembly station, said stop finger means beingoperatively connected with and movable in response to actuation of saidlast-named strip feeding means so that upon operation of such feedingmeans the finger means will be moved to clear said throat for thepassage of a partition strip therethrough, individual control means forthe respective means for feeding said strips relatively to said guidemeans, and control means operable in response'to movement of the tablefeeding means for activating and deactivating said individual controlmeans in timed relation to the movement of strips fed by said tablefeeding means.

5. A partition assembling machine as claimed in claim 4, in which themeans for feeding the strips from the guide means to the assemblingstation comprise friction feed rollers, said feed rollers being arrangedin pairs upon .a pair of shafts one of which is movably mountedwith'relation to said throat for engaging and disengaging movement ofits rollers with respect to a partition strip within the throat andcontacting the rollers of the other shaft, one of said shafts beingprovided with rotation imparting means whereby its rollers are providedwith a'partition strip feeding drive.

6. A partition assembling machine as claimed in claim 4, in which thefeed mechanism at said assembling station includes friction feedrollers, said feed rollers being arranged in pairs upon a pair of shaftsone of which is movably mounted with relation to said throatfor-engaging and disengaging movement of its rollers with respect to apartition strip within the throat and contacting the rollers of theother shaft, one of said shafts being provided with rotation impartingmeans to impart strip feeding drive to its rollers, said stop fingermeans and said movable shaft being operatively connected andsimultaneously movable .to clear said throat and permit feedingpositioning of a partition strip between said pairs of rollers.

'7. A partition assembling machine as claimed in claim 6, in which themovable shaft is supplied with pressure applying means which, when apartition strip is in feeding position, will cause said shaft to presentits rollers in frictional driving engagement with said strip.

8. In a partition assembling machine, means defining an assemblingstation, means for feeding slotted partition strips to said station inhorizontal feed, means for feeding to said station in vertical feedslotted partition Jstrips complemental to the strips in. horizontalfeed, and'means for aligning the strips in vertical feed 'for'properpresentation of their slots relative 'tothe slots of the strips inhorizontal feed at'said assembling station, said aligning meansincluding finger means reciprocable transversely of the strips invertical feed and means for causin'g'sai'd'finger means to be pressedagainstand distort aportion of each said strip between slots thereinwhereby said finger means may during reciprocation be engageable withthe strip portions adjacent to slots bordering said distorted portion.

9. A partition assembling machine as claimed in claim 8, in whichcontrol-means 'are provided for said aligning means and controlactuating means interrelated with said control means are provided foractuation responsive to feeding movement-of the-strips in'horizontalfeed, where- 13 by actuation of said aligning means is responsive tomovement of the strips in horizontal feed.

10. In a partition assembling machine, a feed table provided with meansfor feeding a group of partition strips, a feed hopper associated withsaid table and adapted to feed another groupof partition stripscomplemental to said first named group and extending transverselythereof, means defining an assembling station located intermediate saidfeed table and feed hopper, guide means afiording a path between saidhopper and assembling station and adapted to receive and conduct to saidstation strips fed from said hopper, solenoid actuated means forinitiating feed of strips intermittently and successively from saidhopper to said guide means, solenoid controlled means for feeding saidstrips intermittently and successively from said guide means to saidassembling station, and means including electrical switch means andactuating means therefor operable in response to movement of the tablefeeding means for energizing and deenergizing said solenoids in timedrelation to the movement of strips fed by said table feeding means.

11. A partition assembling machine as claimed inclaim 10, in which thesaid guide means converge at said assembling station to form a restricted throat for the passage of partition strips, and stop fingermeans having guides presenting them transversely of and capable ofobstructing said throat, said stop finger means being operativelyconnected with and movable in response to actuation of said second namedsolenoid so that upon the energizing of said solenoid they will be movedto clear said throat for the passage of a partition strip therethrough.

12. A partition assembling machine as claimed in claim 11, in which thefeed mechanism at said assembling station includes said stop fingermeans and friction feed rollers, said feed rollers being arranged inpairs upon a pair of shafts one of which is rigidly and the othermovably mounted with relation to said throat, said stop finger means andsaid movable shaft being operatively connected with said second namedsolenoid and being simultaneously movable when said solenoid isenergized to clear said throat for the passage of a partition strip.

13. A partition assembling machine as claimed in claim 12, in which thesaid movable shaft is supplied with pressure applying means which, upondeenergization of said second named solenoid, will cause it to presentits rollers in frictional driving engagement with a partition strip fedthrough said throat past said stop finger means.

14. In a partition assembling machine, an assembling station, means forfeeding partition strips to said station in horizontal feed, means forfeeding complemental partition strips to said station in vertical feed,the feeding means Tor the vertical feed including a shuttle bar andmeans whereby it is supported and actuated so as to be movable into andout of the path of the partition strips in vertical feed and servingtemporarily and intermittently to arrest vertical feed of said strips,and means including mechanism connected with said supporting andactuating means and actuated in timed relation to feed of strips in thehorizontal feed for controlling movement of said shuttle bar.

15. In a machine for assembling to cellular form partition strips of thetype provided with slots spaced apart to define cell sections, anassembling station for partition strips fed thereto in horizontal andvertical feed respectively and normal to each other in the two feeds,constantly driven mechanical means for feeding the strips in thehorizontal feed to said assembling station, intermittently actuatedmechanical means for feeding the strips in the vertical feed to theassembling station, electro-responsive means for actuating themechanical means of the vertical feed, and means for controlling theoperation of said electro-responsive means, said controlling meansincluding switch mechanism and operating means therefor actuated intimed relation to the passage of the slots of the partition strips inthe horizontal feed as said strips are fed to the assembling station.

ROBERT J. HICKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,059,325 Weis Apr. 15, 19131,523,652 La Bombard et al. Jan. 20, 1925 2,353,842 McLaughlin et al.July 18, 1944 2,429,007 Wilske et a1 Oct. 14, 1947 2,478,794 Vail Aug.9, 1949 2,493,243 Godwin Jan. 3, 1950

